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At a Crossroads
Recently I mentioned that we have been in the process of assessing where we’re at with things at Crossing Hedgerows. This summer’s flood was one of the reasons for that, with it putting us out of commission for quite some time. It is the worst flood we have had, and caused us to really look at the feasibility of our plans and the design we’ve been working towards for the land.
Along with the flood, we have been facing increasing requests by EGLE for ever more expensive requirements for receiving the permit to go forward with the plans. Though our goal is (and always has been) to regenerate the ecosystem, they seem to be afraid we are asking for permission to build something which will be destructive to the habitat, and are asking for a wetland survey done by a specialist, possibly a topographical survey, and we don’t know what other requirements they may throw at us before all is said and done.
So the decision has had to be made whether to continue to put thousands of more dollars into the permitting process, or simply to let the land be the way it is, with the construction only partially completed and mounds of topsoil and clay scattered about. As the land is owned by the Cavanaughs, and leased by the nonprofit, the decision for management of the land is made by the Cavanaughs. The board of the nonprofit then decides whether to continue leasing the land each year.
The decision by the Cavanaughs has been to go forward with the land project, and the nonprofit will continue to rent the land for the coming year. However, in order to pay for all the expenses, the board of the nonprofit (Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary), as well as the Cavanaughs, have been considering the possibility of restructuring our organization in the coming years. But whatever the structure ends up being, we plan to continue our mission of healing the land, and of being a spiritual retreat center, providing a space for rituals and celebrations, learning opportunities, and connection with the land.
We hope you will stay with us as we shift and grow in the coming years. I will post soon about some of the ideas we have for adapting our land design to work with the possibility of more flooding.
Wishing you all peace and blessings,
Jean
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Written by : Jean Cavanaugh
Jean Cavanaugh is the founder and steward of Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, established in 2019 as a living, learning community devoted to reconnecting people with the wisdom of nature, the sacred order of creation, and the presence of Christ within all life. Her work brings together spiritual formation, ecological stewardship, ancestral wisdom, and hands-on community practice.
Through years of practical work on the land, study of the Mysteries, and the healing of her own severe health challenges through natural methods, Jean has come to recognize God’s hand at work throughout creation. Her teachings, rooted in the Mystery School tradition and Christian gnosis, explore how the patterns of heaven, earth, and the human body reveal the way back to divine presence, peace, and inner strength.
Jean leads with honesty, integrity, and a deeply welcoming spirit, inviting others to let go of inherited assumptions and rediscover truth through lived experience and embodied understanding. She works with all ages—from preschoolers to elders—offering programs and celebrations that emphasize direct engagement with nature, music, story, homesteading skills, and in-person community.
She and her family live at the 21-acre Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary, where daily life reflects a commitment to simplicity, beauty, and harmony with the land. The sanctuary includes gardens, woodland trails, a seasonal creek, gathering circles, and spaces designed to nourish both people and wildlife. Jean is especially passionate about creating environments that are grounding, beautiful, and spiritually restorative.
Through her writing and teaching, Jean encourages others to know themselves, know creation, and recognize Christ as the living truth present within and around us—always inviting a return to love, beauty, and the sacred order of life.
